AMARILLO, Texas (January 6, 2011) ñ Wednesday, Amarillo Baseball Club Vice President/General Manager Mark Lee formally announced the name of the new baseball team as the Amarillo Sox on Wednesday and introduced former Lubbock Christian Chaparral John Harris as the field manager of their American Association of Independent Baseball.

Harris, 57, spent two previous seasons (2006-2007) in the American Association as manager of the Coastal Bend Aviators. He spent five seasons as manager in the Central League including a league championship run with the San Angelo Colts in 2005.

A three-time All-American at Lubbock Christian University, Harris was drafted in the 29th round by the California Angels and played professionally for nine years, spending three years in the major leagues with the Angels from 1979 to 1981. He played first base and outfield, hitting five home runs in 56 career major league games.

Following his playing career, the Portland, Oregon native served as the assistant baseball coach at Texas Tech University from 1986 through 1990. He joined the Texas-Louisiana League in 1999, managing the Lafayette Bayou Bullfrogs for two seasons, and then piloted the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (Central League) in 2002. In 2003, Harris was the field manager of Amarillo and led them to a 48-46 record and a berth in the League Championship Series.